Past & Completed Projects by Nature Society (Singapore) Singapore National Butterfly Campaign
Vote for our Singapore National Butterfly
What better time than Singapore’s 50th year to reflect on our
natural heritage?
From 21-Mar 2015 to 30-Apr 2015, Singaporeans and residents
can VOTE for our National Butterfly.
Visit www.nationalbutterfly.org.sg to learn more about the butterfly
nominees, the selection criteria and to cast your votes online. So
watch out this space when voting begins!
Voters of the winning butterfly are eligible for a LUCKY DRAW and
stand to win an exciting mystery prize!
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We're on Facebook:
For current updates, do check out our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/singaporenationalbutterfly
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Past & Completed Projects by Nature Society (Singapore) Past & Completed Projects by Nature Society (Singapore) When, who and why?
Launch: In conjunction with the Public Utilities Board's (PUB) start of World
Water Week
Members of the public will be asked to choose the butterfly that best
represents the spirit of Singapore. Six species have been chosen by our panel
of experts for the public to vote on. However, participants will be able to select
their own if they so wish.
We hope lots of people will join in to vote and make it a great success. By
voting for the national butterfly, we will give a voice to our colorful insects and
in turn protect their habitats.
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Want to download additional resource materials?
To view the slideshow, pls visit:
http://www.nss.org.sg/documents/Vote for Singapore's national
butterfly_9mar2015.ppsx
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Media release
Do check out our featured article in Straits Times (Dec 10, 2012).
<A vote to capture the national butterfly>
http://www.nss.org.sg/nss_group.aspx?news_id=LGikvCOWQD8=&gr
oup_id=D2dvAi49zO8=
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National butterfly nominees
Below are our expert's pick on the nominees for the national butterfly (in no
order of preference):
Common Birdwing
Common Rose
Painted Jezebel
Common Tiger
Common Tree Nymph
Knight
Past & Completed Projects by Nature Society (Singapore) Common Birdwing
Although the Common Birdwing (Troides helena cerberus) is a big and magnificent
forest species from the Birdwings and Swallowtails (Papilionidae) family, it can
occasionally be found feeding on flowers in gardens and parks. The term ‘birdwing’
refers to any butterfly with elongated forewings and a much smaller rounded
hindwings that resembles a flying small bird especially high up in the sky.
As a consequence of its toxicity derived from its hostplant, Indian Birthwort
(Aristolochia acuminata), imbibed into its system during its larval stage, it has a
nonchalant, unhurried and graceful flight. As if to make this point known to would be
predators, it advertises this fact by having a totally jet black forewings contrasting
with the highly visible golden yellow hindwings. However, this is not enough to stop
its population from declining over the years so much so that it was almost driven to
extinction. The main reason for this is the over-reliance on a single hostplant. Once
the distribution of this plant is very much reduced, either by diseases or in our case
deforestation, the survival of this butterfly is immediately threatened. However due to
replanting its host plant, this species is making a strong comeback. Its female has the
envious distinction of being the largest butterfly in Singapore.
A female Common Birdwing with the usual full set of black spots
on its golden yellow hindwings. Males lack these hindwing spots
but occasional specimens do possess one or a few of them.
Past & Completed Projects by Nature Society (Singapore) Common Rose
Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae asteris) is a medium-sized, graceful and
pretty forest butterfly from the same family as the Common Birdwing. It is one of a
few tailed species that are poisonous. As in the latter species, it is also threatened with
extinction as both share the same hostplant and habitats.
With overall black wings, the distal half of forewings shaded with grey and hindwings
each possessing a central white patch with reddish-pink spots along its margin, it is a
model for one of the forms of the palatable female Common Mormon (Papilio
polytes romulus). The most visible difference is that it has a red body underneath, a
definite signal to predators to stay clear.
The hindwing central patch, actually a group of five rectangular to oval shaped white
spots arranged in an arc around a crescent shaped white spot, reminiscent of the five
stars and a crescent moon on our national flag. These, together with the red on its
body truly complete our nation’s highest symbol.
A female Common Rose showing its more rounded forewings and
thicker tails than a male’s.
Past & Completed Projects by Nature Society (Singapore) Painted Jezebel
Painted Jezebel (Delias hyparete metarete) is a common, medium-sized, widespread
and beautiful butterfly from the Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae) family. With a
ground colour of white contrasting with blackened veins, a yellow base connected to a
thick but tapering red hindwing border on the underside, it is by far the most visible
butterfly in our HDB neighbourhood, weaving in and out of flowering trees. Now,
imagine the butterfly represents Singapore, then its quartet of colours would stand for
the four races of people residing here.
Flying slowly and gracefully usually at canopy level and sometimes even higher, it
occasionally comes down to feed on flowering bushes. It goes about its day with nary
a care in the world due to its unpalatability which is derived from the toxic leaves of
the Mistletoe (Dendrophtoe pentandra) it fed on as caterpillars. Feeding on such a
parasitic plant of mature trees makes it gardener-friendly. On one hand it totally
ignores other prized plants in the garden while on the other it occasionally kills its
hostplant ridding a tree of its parasite.
Like all insects this species is most active in bright sunlight. However it has been seen
flying in foul weather, from darkened skies to even moderate rain. What a
hardworking and resilient species! Any other butterfly would have gone under a leaf
to sit it out. Its habitat is extremely varied from forests, both inland and coastal to
suburban areas to grasslands and even right in the middle of city centres. That is how
adaptable this insect is!
A female Painted Jezebel displaying thicker black veining on the
undersides and heavily black dusting on the uppersides give it an
overall grayish look when in flight.
Past & Completed Projects by Nature Society (Singapore) Common Tiger
Common Tiger (Danaus genutia genutia), a poisonous species from the same
subfamily as the Common Tree Nymph is so named because it resembles the striped
predator. Just like its namesake, it is a graceful and handsome insect.
Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the world renowned butterfly migrant,
the Monarch (Danaus plexippus) of North America to which it is closely related, it is
one of three orange ‘Tigers’ found here in Singapore. While it is an overwintering
migrant in Hong Kong, there is currently no scientific studies done to confirm that the
population here is.
There are two forms of this butterfly found here; form genutia with orange hindwings
and form intermedius with white but the borders tinged with orange. Both are usually
found together but form genutia seems to be the more common one. It is more of an
insect of coastal mangroves than inland forests but can sometimes be found visiting
flowers in urban parks and even gardens. It has a propensity to sip the oozing sap of
the Rattlebox Pea (Crotalaria sp.) by scratching the bean pod with its legs.
A male Common Tiger form genutia revealing its sexual brands
visible as black protusions on its hindwings.
Past & Completed Projects by Nature Society (Singapore) Common Tree Nymph
A poisonous forest species from the Tigers, Crows and Milkweed
Butterflies (Danainae) subfamily, the Common Tree Nymph (Idea stolli logani) is
big, conspicuous and unmistakable.
With its ashy white wings dotted with black spots and lines, coupled with a long
slender abdomen, it flaps slowly and glides at canopy level, displaying its grace and
beauty for all to see. A showy species indeed! People seeing this butterfly for the first
time always remark that it is a surreal experience. Many come away inspired by this
simplistic beauty of nature. All were wide-eyed with amazement to see such a
spectacle.
The Malay village communities in Malaysia called it ‘surat’ or letter as it literally
looks like a piece of paper floating in the air with black words inscribed on it. What a
truly apt description! You could even call this a message from heaven.
A male Common Tree Nymph showing its more narrower and
elongated forewings. Females tend to be larger and have broader
wings.
Past & Completed Projects by Nature Society (Singapore) Knight
A subspecies endemic to Singapore, Johor and Riau islands, the Knight (Lebadea
martha parkeri) was only discovered in the late 1970s.
Our resident differs from its Malaysian and Thailand counterparts by possessing pale
mauve wing scales on its hindwings.
This butterfly hails from the Brushfoot Butterflies (Nymphalidae) family, well
known for their four-legged stance when at rest. The two front legs which are very
much reduced and therefore useless for walking, are endowed with hair scales
resembling a tiny brush.
Being reasonably common in the forests, one can usually find more than a single
specimen flying along trails in pristine environments or even in disturbed areas.
Highly tolerant of human disturbances in its forest habitat, it is a remarkable resilient
species found even in green fragments not unlike our nature parks and gardens.
A female Knight with broader wings and less vivid colours. The
similar but brighter males have white tips to their forewings.